Device for washing material



Feb. 24, 1931. E. SILVANO sf AL 1,794,039

DEVICE FOR WASHING MATERIAL Filed Dec. 6, 1927 \5 \5. m 2 26 r 0- 2b 1 6 I l/lllllllllllilm u av w W 25 af- Il 5b 52' INVENTOR. 52 43 Eta/V8110 I'll. (an

M BY 5' ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 24, 193 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DEVICE FOR WASHING MATERIAL Application fled Decemjer 6, 1927, Serial No. 238,211, and in Italy December 14, 1926.

The present invention relates to a novel process for washing material previously pulverized and rendered granular or soft with solvent, and it relates also to the device by (5 which the process is carried out.

The invention finds a convenient and direct use in washing seeds and oily cakes with solvent, for'the purpose of extracting the oil. It may also be successfully a plied when any raw material, susceptible of ing previously pulverized and rendered soft or granular, is to be washed with a liquid, without being carried away by this was ing liquid.

The invention has been realized in practice and is characterized by the following features: a

,/The material to be washed, after being previously and suitably prepared, is submitted to thewashing in rather thin layers of suitable breadth The washing is eilected by causing the liqmid and solvent to a normal direction.

In order to permit this operation, the layer ous trans ortin and retaining ribbons consisting o liexib e material, which, will prevent the smallest particles from being washed away and is also suitable to act as a filtering means, permitting the washing liquid to pass through it.

The assembly consisting of the two continuous retaining'and trans orting ribbons and of the material containe between them, is such that the layer of material to be washed cannot move between the ribbons nor go out therefrom when the washing liquid passes through it.

Di1ring the passage of the liquid through the ribbons contain, the material to e 'washed, the smallest articles of material close the holes of the n bon which acts as a filteri means, thus impeding a second passage 0 liquid in the same direction, should no other measures be taken. In order to obtain a succession of passages 'of washing liquid through the assembly, the device is so arranged that the said assembly is traversed .by the washing liquid or solvent, first in one 559 direction and then in the opposite direction,

pass through the layer in to be washed is placed between two COIltlDllbut always in a direction essentially perpendicular to the layer of the material, with the result that each passa e of liquid frees the closed holes of that rib on which in the preceding passage had acted as a filtering means. 5 Owing to the aforementioned advantage, itis possible to submit the same material to several successive washings, as well as to invert the assembly containing the material in respect to the washing liquid.

The washing operation is effected causin the assembly which consists as mentione above, of the two ribbons and of the material contained between them, to become adjacent to a surface which is perforated and suitable either for directing the washing liquid against the assembly to be washed, or to receive the liquid assed through said assembly and which may e further used in successive washing operations.

Said assembly after having been traversed an even number of times by the washing liquid in each direction, and after this liquid has washed the material contained between the two ribbons, is separated for the purpose .76 of withdrawing and removing therefrom the washed material as well as for filling it again in a suitable way with other material to'be' washed;

The filling of the assembly with other maso terial to betreated is carried out in such a way that the material completely fills up the space between the transportin and retaining ribbons so that the materia is prevented from moving betweenthe ribbons in lon a5 tudinal direction 7 under the action of t e washing liquid;

When, for industrial ur oses, it is necessary to recover the was e material or the washing 1i uid absorbed or carried by said material a er the treatment proper means will'be applied to the assem ly, and it will be also possible to apply means suitable for drying the washed material either before or after removing it from the transporting and retaining ribbons;

Finally, should the washing liquid evaporate easily at ordinary temperatures and atmospheric pressures or deteriorate under the action of light or under other adverse atmospheric conditions, then the device is placed in a-closed container where it will be possible to maintain suitable temperature and pressure or 'to eliminate the action of the light or of said other adverse atmospheric conditions which cause any inconvenience.

The accom anying drawings illustrate only by way of example, a practical embodiment of the invention based on the aforesaid principles and relate'particularly to the treatment of seed and cakes, consisting in washing them with solvent for the purpose of extracting the oil contained therein, although the invention is suitable for many other operations.

The washing of the material may be effected either by causing the assembly composed of the transporting and filtering ribbons, (containing the material to be washed) to move adjacent to a surface-preferably cylindrical and rotating so that the peripheral speed of said surface is equal to the displacement of the aforementioned assembly, or. by providing an apparatus having a double ribbon which remains flat and passes, at the portionsubmitted to the washing, between two flat, fixed and perforated plates, having corresponding holes. One of said plates is a wall of a first open tank, the other a wall of a second closed tank or chamber whose volume may be caused to vary.

The washing liquid contained in said second chamber, owing topontinuous variations of volume, is forced under pressure through the aforesaid double retaining layer, and also through the material contained therein; the washing liquid may be conveyed either into the upper tank or to the lower chamber, in both cases it enters into the tank or chamber at the point where the double ribbon moves out of the device and leaves-it at the point where the double ribbon containing'the material to be washed is introduced into the device.

The same means which produces the aforesaid variations of volumeand the successive passages of the liquid through the material to be washed, serves also to give to such liquid a movement which forces it through a discharge valve to effect a renewal of the washing liquid sinc during the passage through the device the washing liquid is enriched with the material dissolved therein and which was contained in the raw" material carried between the two aforesaid continuous ribbons.

Figure l'illustrates schematicall the complete device and'its operation; ig. .2 is a cross section of the transporting and retaining ribbons; Fig. 3 is also a cross section of the two ribbons and Fig.4 shows in part an axial section and in part an outside view of tEhe two drums employed in the:-scheme of ig. 1. I

Figs. 5 and 6 show schematically in vertical section two devices which may replace the device-shown in Fig. 4 and which are modifications of Fig. 1.

'Referring more particularly to the drawings, transporting ribbon (1) and retaining ribbon (2) are shown in separated position at (A) and (B) in Fig. 1. The ribbon (1) is guided by a recoil roller (18) to assume a horizontal or substantially horizontal position and is disposed to pass below a funnel (19) or similar device of a hopper (20), said funnel (19) distributing auniform and continuous stratum on the upper surface of said ribbon. The thickness of said stratum must slightly surpass the height (h), Fig. 3, of the space resulting between the. transporting an retaining ribbons, after they are coupled. The breadth of such stratum depositedby the funnel (19) on the ribbon (1) must be slightly less than the breadth b, Fig. 3, of the space resulting between the two ribbons when they aryoupled. In such a way the raw material t be treated becomes suitably pressed by the two ribbons and therefore is compelled to move with them as long as they are coupled and said raw material is prevented from shifting in a longitudinal direction and from getting out of the space formed by the coupling of the ribbons, under theaction of the passage of the washing liquid or solvent through it.

Their two ribbons (1) and (2) after the passage under the recoil roller (21) make contact, and after the passage of both of them on the roller (4) they form by means of said retaining means (26) an assembly containing the stratum of the raw material ttfbe washed which is retained in a suitable and reliable way; said assembly so constructed forms a characteristic of the present invention.

The assembly .so constituted (Fig. 3) is moved in the direction of the arrow (25) by means of trailing rollers and becomes adjacent to a portion of the washing cylinder barrel (7), Fi s. 1 and 4, provided with the holes (22). Sai cylinder, which is empty,'rotates around its axis; its speed of revolution is such that the linear speed of its outer surface is equal to the speed of displacement of the ribbons in the direction of the arrows (25). The height of the cylinder I (7) corresponds to the breadth of the assembly composed of the two ribbons (1) and (2), and the holes (22) are uniformly distributed on a portion as wide as that of the band of the material to be treated; this band, by means of suitable side guide rollers or the like, lies flat on the perforated outer surface. of the cylinder. The washing liquid is supplied through the centre hole (8) (with reference to the case ill-ustrated) and reaches the interior of the concave cylinder. It then passes through the holes (22') and the assembly shown in Fig. 3, in normal direction with the surface of the ribbons and of the stratum of material to be treated; said liquid is received by the funnel (9) and pipe It must be observed,

- however, that the direction of the motion of mentioned; in fact the liquid may arrive i through pipe (10) and, after having traversed the'assembly shown in Fig. 3, it may be received in the interior of the cylinder (7 wherefrom it will be discharged through the exhaust hole (8) In the case illustrated, the passage of the liquid through the material to be treated, is preferably effected by gravity,

'but it will be possible to predispose the several parts in such a manner that this passage takes place under pressure or suction. It is necessary that the washing liquid should come against the surface of the ribbon so that the liquid will be compelled to effect a passage and be prevented from flowing away through other paths of less resistance; in the case and in the hypothesis illustrated,it is necessary that the inlet of solvents in the cylinder (7) should be controlled so that the level of the liquid inside the cylinder does not surpass the chord of the arc of contact of the two ribbons on the barrel, and it is also necessary that the assembly constituted by the two ribbons and by the material therein contained should strictly adhere to the surface of the cylinder barrel 7) and should not creep on it.

During the aforesaid operation, some holes of the ribbon 1) which acts as filtering organ, are closed by particles of the material tobe washed; further it must be noted that a sole passage does not always wash the material as much as desired, hence it will often be necessary to submit the material to a second washing. For this purpose and also for the purpose of freeing the holes of the ribbon (1) which have become closed, as aforesaid, the assembly of the ribbons (1) and (2) and of the material to be treated is subsequently traversed by a washing liquid or solvent in the-direction opposite to that in which they had' been traversed when they lay on the aforesaid cylinder (7 It will be possible either to adopt the alternate disposltion previously indicated, or to adopt a recoil and inverting roller (12) and to pass the inverted assembly under a second washing cylinder (11) constituted and working as cylinder 7 in which the liquid has a motion.

in centrifugal direction by gravity. The same operation may take place more times (as shown in Fig. 1) by means .of the recoil and inverting roller (12) and the washing cylinders (13) and (14). The embodiments illustrated and indicated prevent the holes from being progressively closed as either of the two facesfof the ribbon are alternatel presented to the motion of the washing liqui V tion,i-t is'possible by the successive enrichment of the solution to increase the concentration of the filtering liquid. In fact, it wlll be possible to pass the filtering li uid into the washin cylinder (14), to co lect the filtered liquid when flowing out. through pipe (10") and following the schematic indication of the arrow (17), to pass this liquid into the successive washing cylinder (13), to collect the filtering liquid when flowing out through pipe (10) and to pass it, following the schematic indication of the arrow (17 into the successive washing cylinder (11) and so on. J

After the assembly shown in Fig. 3 has been sufliciently traversed by the washing liquid or solvent as aforesaid, the material must be separated from the transporting and cover, by suitable means, either the dried material or the washing liquid contained, ab-

sorbed or retained by the material or by the ribbons. For obtaining the aforesaid separation, the assembly of the. two ribbons and of the material therein contained, passes, after leaving the last washing cylinder (14) over one or more recoil rollers (15) which in certain cases, may also be eliminated; the two ribbons (1) and (2) guided by the rollers (16) separate one from the other and return to the positions (A) and (B) first considered. The material treated will leave the aforesaid ribbons and may be aided by the mechanical action of brushes (6) disposed against the inner surfaces of the ribbons, and also by heaters, by drying devices, etc.

The material so separated will be collected in the tank '(24) wherefrom it can be extracted for other uses; for instance it can pass Referrin particularly to the embodiment shown in Fig. 5 (1) and (2) indicate'the two continuous ribbons which followin rectionof the arrow (30) reach t e guide roller (4) and which walls (31 and 32) an rated plates (33 and 34) the holes or openings (35) of a plate corresponding exactly with those of the other plate. Plate (33) constitutes the bottom of a tank (36) which the washing liquid passes following the d'1-' rection of the' arrow (37) through anysuitthe di'-' ipass through the two ,1

between two p'erfoable means; the plate (34) constitutes a wall of a closed tank (38) which bottom (39) presents an ample opening (40) closed by a spring diaphragm (41) fixed thereto in any way, for instance by means of the ring (42) and of the bolt (43). Said spring diaphragm has its centre connected to a rod (44) to which very rapid alternations are imparted in the direction of the arrows (45) and (46). The ribbons (1) and (2), after passing through the space between the two plates (33 and 34) passes through the vacuum between the two plates (47 and 48) which is long enough to avoid the dispersion of the washing liquid in the direction of the arrow (30); they pass around the roller (49) and go out for the further operations indicated in the main patent. The tank (36) also has an overflow (50) or the like through which the treated liquid flows out in a small continuous stream; the entrance of the solvent is near the points (47) and (48) where the ribbons (1 and 2) leave the device the overflow (50) corresponds to points (31 and 32) where the ribbons (l and 2), containing the material to be treated, reach the device.

Referring particularly to Fig. 6 wherein like numbers of reference designate as much as possible, the corresponding parts of Fig. 5, we find, besides the other parts, a funnel (51) through which the solvent is poured,

said funnel having at its bottom non-return valve (52) by means of which its interior communicates with the interior of the chamber (32) which has an exhaust valve (52") submitted to the action of a suitable regis-.

tering spring (not shown) this springpermits a limited opening of the valve only when the pressure in chamber (38) has reached a given value. 'Beyond valve (52) there is an exhaust pipe (53) for the solvent which flows out in the direction of the arrow The device functions as follows:. The spring diaphragm (41) is rapidly vibrated by means of the rod (44) so that the solvent passes through the holes or openings (35) and traverses the two ribbons (1 and 2) and the material therein contained; with reference to Fig. 5, the solvent enters continuously in the direction of the arrow (57) and steadily flows away through the overflow (50) after becoming enriched by passage through the device.

Referring to the embodiment shown in Fig. 6 each vibration of the spring diaphragm (41) causes the passage of a certain mass of solvent through valve (52) in the direction of the arrow (54) and the suction of a portion of solvent contained in the tank (36) in the direction of the arrow (56). The action of the spring diaphragm (41) causes the passage to some solvent contained in chamber. (38) inan opposite direction of the arrow (56) and also forces apart of the solvent contained in the chamber (38) through the exhaust valve (52) and the pipe (53).

In such a way the vibrations of the diaphragm (41), besides producing the alternate passages of the solvent through the ribbons and the material therein contained, also produce a regular passage of the solvent from the funnel (51) to the exhaust pipe (53) in the direction of the arrow (54).

The two embodiments illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 and the analogous ones which might be established on the basis of the principles indicated in the present application in view of the embodiment illustrated in the Figs. 1 to 4, have the following advantages:

They render possible to obtain a more comr pact and less bulky device.

The enrichment of the solutions reaches a greater value and consequently, in the successive operation-s, the device becomes more efficient, especially from the thermal point of view.

The number of vibrations of the spring diaphragm is controlled with respect to the speed of displacement of the ribbons in the direction of the arrow (30) between the two plates (33 and 34) so that the maximum useful efliciency is obtained, depending on the material to be washed and of solvent employed.

The device disclosed in the present specification also set forth, the process of the successive enrichments of the solvent by placing several devices like those illustrated, one above the other, the exhaust solvent of one device being utilized for feeding the preceding device.

It must further be noticed that in order to withdraw the washedmaterial from the rib bons (1 and 2), to recover from this material the solvent contained therein after the operation and to recover the washed material, dry and suitable for the further utilizations, it is possible to employ a warm gas working device in lieu of a solvent working device, but constructed in the same way as that illustrated in the drawings attached thereto.

We claim:

1. In an apparatus for washing with washing solvent raw material previously pulverized and granulated, in combination, an assembly comprising a continuous supporting porous ribbon, a second porous continuous ribbon adjacent to and above said supporting ribbon and channels in the adjacent surfaces of said ribbons forming a space containing the material to be washed, transporting means for said assembly and means for passing the washing solvent through said assembly alternately in a direction normal theretO.

2. In an apparatus for washing with washing solvent raw material previously pulverized and granulated, in combination, an assembly comprising a continuous supporting ribbon, a second continuous ribbon adjacent to and above said supporting ribbon, said ribbons being flexible and porous so as to act as a retaining means for the material and filtering means for the solvent, and channels in the adjacent surfaces of said ribbons forming a space containing the material to be washed, transporting means for said assembly and meansfor passing the washing solvent through said assembly in a direction normal thereto.

3. In an apparatus for washing with washing solvent raw material previously pulverized and granulated, in combination, an assembly comprising a continuous supporting ribbon, a second continuous ribbon adjacent to and above said supporting ribbon,- said ribbons being flexible and porous so as to act as a retaining means for the material and filtering means for the washing solvent, and channels in the adjacent surfaces of said ribbons forming a space containing the material to' be washed, transporting means for said assembly comprising rotating perforated cylinders containing the washing solvent and in frictional contact with said assembly, means for inverting said assembly with respect to each contact with the successive perforated cylinders comprising recoil and inverting rollers and means for collecting the washing solvent after each passa e through the assembly and for delivering the same to the interior of the succeeding perforated cylinder. 1

4. In an apparatus for washing, with washing, solvent, raw material previously pulverized and granulated, in ccmbination, a plurality of hollow perforated cylinders containing said washing solvent and disposed in vertical spaced relation, a hollow assembly com-, prising two channeled perforated flexible ribbons containing said raw material and a plurality of rollers frictionally engaging said assembly, conducting said assembly adjacent said cylinders and inverting'the same 6. I11 an apparatus for washing, with washing solvent, raw material previously pulverized and granulated, in combination, a plurality of hollow perforated cylinders containing washing solvent and disposed in vertical spaced relation, a hollow flexible assem bly comprising two channeled perforated ribbons containing said raw material, a plurality of rollers frictionally engaging said assembly, conducting the same in contact relation with said cylinders and inverting said assembly after each contact, a second plurality of rollers frictionally engaging said ribbons to separate the same, scra ing means engaging the channels in said per orated ribbons and a charging means positioned above said channels to fill the same with raw material to be washed.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures.

Inc. EMILIO SILVANO. VINOENZO LOMBARDI CERRI.

between successive contacts with said cylinders.

5. In an apparatus for washing, with washing solvent, raw material previously pulverized and granulated, in combination, a plurality of hollow perforated cylinders containing said washin solvent and disposed in vertical spaced re ation, a hollow flexible assembly comprising two channeled perforated ribbons containing said raw material, a plurality of rollers frictionally engaging said assembly, conducting the same in contact relation with said cylinders and inverting said assembly after each contact, a lurality of funnels positioned below each ollow perforated cylinder and a plurality of pipes conducting said washing solvent after passage through said assembl into the next lower 65 hollow perforated cyhnder. 

